for additional breakthroughs before we begin to conquer dental decay. The gap that now exists between dental needs and services is definitely a gap in the delivery process, and it can be closed.

The shortage of dentists and their auxiliary personnel is well known. Therefore, we must apply the resources we have in the most efficient manner possible. Other countries have recognized these facts and have acted long ago to establish dental programs for schoolchildren. New Zealand has had a school dental program since 1921. It is not surprising that they are an acknowledged leader in the delivery of dental services, having also utilized auxiliaries in effective ways that are, as yet, not a part of our dental care delivery system.

Despite our scarcity of dental manpower, we are failing to recruit military service veterans, who have had years of experience as dental corpsmen, into the civilian dental care system. Over 1,000 of these young men and women are being lost each year to some other civilian occupation.

Water fluoridation is accepted by all major health organizations as an effective and inexpensive means of decreasing the incidence of tooth decay. Many communities have already fluoridated their water supplies and many more are planning to do so.

In some cases, lack of public funds is delaying this action. Only a few days ago an article in the Boston Globe stated that 31 communities in my home State of Massachusetts, having completed all the legal steps to accomplish fluoridation are now only waiting to raise the funds needed to install the necessary equipment. Federal grants are needed to assist communities to provide this important public health measure.

The Nixon administration has consistently slighted appropriation requests for dental programs. Even today, the administration has declined to come and present testimony on S. 1874. Legislation enacted in 1968 to assist in financing dental care for young children has been given only token support. S. 1874 seeks to provide dental services for our children who have been so long neglected. We cannot permit such deprivation to continue unchallenged.

I will include in the record at the end of my remarks the text of S. 1874 and a copy of a letter from HEW dated July 9 received in my office over the weekend, which indicated that the Department would not be able to appear.

Our charge is clear. We must move quickly to act on this important bill introduced by the distinguished senior Senator from the State of Washington. Senator Magnuson has once again seen a substantial national health problem, and in keeping with his keen understanding of the health needs of the American people, has taken appropriate action by introducing S. 1874, the "Children's Dental Health Act of 1971."

(The text of S. 1874 and the letter referred to follow :)

92D CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

S. 1874

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 14, 1971

Mr. MAGNUSON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare

A BILL

To provide for the establishment of projects for the dental health of children to increase the number of dental auxiliaries, to increase the availability of dental care through efficient use of dental personnel, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That this Act may be cited as the "Children's Dental Health 4 Act of 1971”.

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SEC. 2. The Public Health Service Act is amended by

6 adding at the end thereof the following new title:

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1

"TITLE X-DENTAL HEALTH PROJECTS

2 "GRANTS FOR PROJECTS FOR DENTAL CARE FOR CHILDREN

3

"SEC. 1001. (a) There are authorized to be appropri4 ated $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1972; 5 $15,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973; $30.6 000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974; $50,000.7 000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975; and $70,8 000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976; which 9 shall be used by the Secretary to make grants to the health agency of any State (or political subdivision thereof) or to any other public or nonprofit private agency, organization, or institution to pay for part of the cost of the carrying out

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11

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(on a planned and systematic basis) by such agency, orga14 nization, or institution, of one or more comprehensive proj15 ects for dental care and services for children of preschool

16 and school age. Any such project shall include such com17 prehensive corrective, followup, and preventive services (in18 cluding dental health education), and treatment as may be 19 required under regulations of the Secretary.

20 "(b) Grants under this section shall not be utilized to 21 provide or pay for dental care and services for children 22 unless such children are determined (in accordance with 23 regulations of the Secretary) to be (A) from low-income 24 families, or (B) unable, for other reasons beyond their con25 trol, to obtain such care and services.

3

"(c) Grants under this section may be utilized for the

2 conduct of research, demonstrations, or experimentation 3 carried on with a view to developing new methods for (A) 4 the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of dental problems, 5 (B) the payment of dental care and services, or (C) the 6 utilization of dental health care personnel with various levels 7 of training; except that not more than 10 per centum of any 8 grant under this section shall be so utilized.

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"(d) In making grants under this section, the Secre10 tary shall accord priority to projects designed to provide 11 dental care and preventive services for children of preschool age and school age children who are in the first five grades 13 of school.

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"GRANTS FOR WATER TREATMENT PROGRAMS

"SEC. 1002. (a) There are hereby authorized to be 16 appropriated $2,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 17 1972; $3,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973; 18 $4,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974; 19 $4,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975; and 20 $2,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976; which 21 shall be used by the Secretary to make grants to States, 22 political subdivisions of States, and other public or nonprofit 23 private agencies, organizations, and institutions to assist them 24 in initiating, in communities or in public elementary or sec25 ondary schools, water treatment programs designed to re

4

1 duce the incidence of oral disease or dental defects among

2 residents of such communities or the students in such schools

3 (as the case may be).

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"(b) Grants under this section may be utilized for (but

5 are not limited to) the purchase and installation of water 6 treatment equipment.

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17.

"(c) Grants under this section shall not exceed

"(1) in the case of a grant to any person who has received a grant under section 1001, 80 per centum of the cost of the treatment program with respect to which such grant under this section is made; and

"(2) in the case of a grant to any person (other than a person referred to in paragraph (1), 66 per centum of the cost of the treatment program with re

spect to which such grant is made.

"GRANTS TO TRAIN AUXILIARY DENTAL PERSONNEL

"SEC. 1003. There are hereby authorized to be appro18 priated $12,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 19 1972; $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 20 1973; $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 21 1974; $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975; 22 and $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976; 23 which shall be used by the Secretary to make grants to 24 public and nonprofit private institutions to assist them in 25 establishing and carrying out programs to educate and train